BRICS News

Strong data from mining and manufacturing helped boost the South African economy in Q2 [Xinhua]
The South African economy has reaped the benefits of a weaker rand, with a 6.6 per cent increase on final sales in the second quarter, an 18.1 per cent surge in exports and 5.1 per cent decline in imports, a report from the national statistics agency showed on Tuesday.
Final sales are calculated by subtracting the change in inventories from the gross domestic product (GDP), on a quarter-by-quater (q/q) seasonally adjusted annualized (saa) basis.

In their final communique, G20 leaders pledged to protect free trade [Xinhua]
Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi has hailed the agreements reached at the G20 summit in Hangzhou adding that the world economy now had a road map to pull it out of the crises of the past decade.
“The outcomes of the summit, many of which are of pioneering significance in the history of the G20, are expected to make the global economy regain its vitality,” Yang told reporters in an interview carried by state news agency Xinhua.

Obama described his meeting with Putin as “candid” but said that “grave differences” remained over Syria [Xinhua]
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China Monday but failed to reach any breakthrough to end the Syrian Civil War.
In talks that Obama described as “blunt” and “businesslike”, the two leaders met after Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Secretary of State John Kerry met for the second time in a week to narrow their differences over the Syrian conflict.

Xi called on the G20 to put action to words and end protectionism and isolationism in international trade [Xinhua]
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the world community to enhance access to an open global economy and open up opportunities for trade and investment.
During the opening session of the 11th G20 summit in Hangzhou, Xi said that increased trade protection over the years has poisoned the global trade environment.
“The G20 should resolutely oppose the beggar-thy-neighbor policy, and advocate and promote the building of an open global economy.”

Putin previously said that the bin Salman is someone Russia can do business with [Xinhua]
Russian President Vladimir Putin med with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China Sunday.
During the meeting, the two discussed the conflict in Syria as well as the current oil glut.
Bin Salman said cooperation between both their countries, the two largest oil producers in the world, would ultimately benefit energy markets.
Putin agreed.

Saint Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. Today, some 4,500 nuns work there [Xinhua]
Calling her a “dispenser of mercy”, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa of Calcutta (now Kolkata) a saint for her work with the impoverished and downtrodden in India.
Addressing a crowd of tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis said: “I think, perhaps, we may have some difficulty in calling her St. Teresa: Her holiness is so near to us, so tender and so fruitful, that we continue to spontaneously call her Mother Teresa.”

From left to right: Brazilian President Michel Temer, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Jacob Zuma pose for a photo after a BRICS meet in Hangzhou, China on 4 September 2016 [Xinhua]The five leaders of the BRICS countries have met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou China.

There are expectations that Temer will ratify the Paris Accords this September [Xinhua]
Following in tandem with fellow member China and the United States, Brazil says it will concentrate on climate change and sustainable development during the two-day G20 summit in Hangzhou.

China will use the G20 meet in Hangzhou to showcase sustainable development in this city [Xinhua]
The G20 summit opens today, attempting to bring back the spotlight on the global economy and strengthening trade ties in a climate that sees the international sphere huddle over security concerns.
This year’s summit is hosted by China in the southeastern city of Hangzhou, and many analysts have said that it is Beijing’s chance to host one of the most significant gatherings of world leaders in its history.

The Chinese and US delegations meet in Hangzhou, Saturday. China and the US had promised to work diligently together to reach a climate control accord when Xi visited Washington last year [Xi]